ESPN insider questions D-backs 1-2 starting punch

By Arizona Sports | September 6, 2011 at 10:19 pmUPDATED: September 6, 2011 at 11:34 pm

PHOENIX – After taking the series against the Giants over the weekend and pushing their lead in the division to seven games, the Arizona Diamondbacks are most likely heading to the playoffs next month.

Now the question becomes how will they stack up against other teams battling for a World Series title.

Starting pitchers Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson are one of the main reasons for Arizona having such a great season, but one ESPN insider doesn’t believe Arizona’s dynamic duo will stack up against other playoff teams’ starters.

“Kennedy and Hudson are just so young that I’m just not sure they’re going to be as ready as a guy that’s pitched in the postseason like that before,” said Tim Kurkjian on the Arizona Sports 620’s Burns and Gambo show on Tuesday.

Furthermore, Kurkjian added he would take Detroit’s combo of Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, Boston’s duo of Josh Beckett and Jon Lester and Philadelphia’s top two starters over Kennedy and Hudson.

Kurkjian thought Arizona’s top two starters would be equal to Atlanta’s 1-2 punch.

Still, having downplayed their standing among other playoff teams’ starters, the analyst still thinks Arizona can win with Kennedy and Hudson as their top two starters.

“On paper, it’s really good with the numbers those guys have put up. When you compare them to the other ones, maybe they don’t compare as well, but are they going to be overmatched? Absolutely not,” said Kurkjian.

Nobody predicted Arizona to be in this position heading to the playoffs anyway, so people questioning their ability to compete in the playoffs probably won’t affect Arizona either.